New Jersey
New Jersey Devils Power Play Goes From First to Worst at Worst Possible Time
![New Jersey Devils Power Play Goes From First to Worst at Worst Possible Time New Jersey Devils Power Play Goes From First to Worst at Worst Possible Time](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_2411,h_1356,x_0,y_67/c_fill,w_1440,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/89/01hpb7jzmwsx0812camm.jpg)
The New Jersey Devils let their power play do a lot of their scoring early in the season. Over the first 20 games of the season, the Devils led the league in power-play goals. He scored 25 goals with the mad advantage and just 37 goals at 5v5. The power play was running things.
At the time, the Devils were still posting decent analytics at 5v5, so even if the power play fell back to Earth, the 5v5 goals would regulate. Everything would even out.
The opposite has happened. The Devils’ power play has tanked beyond what anyone thought possible, and the 5v5 goals haven’t caught up. Over the last 25 games, the Devils have eight power-play goals. That ranked last in the NHL during that time. Of course, it’s highlighted by this current 0-for-21 streak.
The Devils just got shut out by the Carolina Hurricanes despite getting three power plays. Jack Hughes is back, so that can’t be an excuse. Ondrej Palat, Timo Meier, Nico Hischier, and Eric Haula are all healthy, so their units are only missing Dougie Hamilton. Was he truly that important?
Hamilton was obviously important, but he was on the ice for just nine power-play goals in 20 games. The Devils downgraded him to the second power-play unit (which the Devils would say actually wasn’t a downgrade). One of the things that was really working for New Jersey was they had two great PP units with Luke Hughes quarterbacking the top unit. Now, the first unit is top-heavy again.
The Devils have surprisingly been not so bad at 5v5 scoring. Failing to score on Saturday aside, the Devils have scored 59 goals at 5v5 in their last 25 games. Despite scoring the fourth-most even-strength goals in that time frame, the Devils are 11-11-3. Many will point to the injuries (Jack Hughes missed a ton of time, as did Meier and obviously Hamilton and Jonas Siegenthaler), but they were scoring. Now, they are as fully healthy as they will be all season. And they can’t score.
Obviously, this is made worse by how bad the Devils goaltending has been. Sure, Vitek Vanecek was good on Saturday, but he was the sole reason they lost on Thursday. Now, with the power play failing to score every single game, there is no room for error with the 5v5 offense.
The Devils are in a very bad position. The playoffs are slipping away by the game. They have probably 10 more losses for the rest of the season if they believe the playoffs are still the goal. That means scoring has to happen. They aren’t even getting high-danger chances. The power play tries the same thing over and over. The puck spends too much time on the perimeter and not enough time near the goal mount.
It’s an issue that will literally tank the Devils season. Everything has to go right. That includes the power play. One could argue it has gone so wrong that just by pure luck, the power play will turn around. However, they haven’t done much to fix it. It’s time to make it clear the PP has to get more aggressive. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t matter who is in net. We learned on Saturday that the issues with the Devils are so much more than in net. The power play is quickly at the top of the list.
![](https://newspub.live/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/np-logo.png)
New Jersey
NJ judge rules smoking can continue in Atlantic City casinos, dealing blow to gaming workers
![NJ judge rules smoking can continue in Atlantic City casinos, dealing blow to gaming workers NJ judge rules smoking can continue in Atlantic City casinos, dealing blow to gaming workers](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/88654381-1.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=1024)
New Jersey gaming workers were dealt a serious legal blow Friday when a state judge dismissed a lawsuit that sought to ban smoking on casino floors.
The ruling in favor of Atlantic City’s nine struggling casinos was delivered by Superior Court Judge Patrick Bartels.
The tobacco-wary casino workers filed a lawsuit in May, seeking a permanent ban on smoking over the health concerns posed by second-hand smoke.
When the state abolished smoking indoors nearly 20 years ago, they did so with an exception — permitting smoking on 25% of the casino floor.
The casino workers first called on state lawmakers to prohibit smoking four years ago, but when a bill to that effect stalled, they filed their lawsuit.
Opponents of the ban say it will lead to casino closures and thousands of layoffs.
They also believe putting an end to smoking in Atlantic City casinos will drive gamblers to casinos in neighboring Pennsylvania.
Casino owners also contend the state would lose millions in tax revenue under such a ban.
Atlantic City‘s nine casinos have been hurting financially since the start of the COVID pandemic, a recovery made even harder with the advent of online and app-based gambling.
The casino industry has long opposed a smoking ban, and said it has been working to develop better ventilation systems as well as enclosed smoking rooms, staffed by employees who volunteer to work there.
New Jersey
Two injured in shooting after New Jersey high school football game: report
![Two injured in shooting after New Jersey high school football game: report Two injured in shooting after New Jersey high school football game: report](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/newspress-collage-89355slnd-1725083301412.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&1725068930&w=1024)
A shooting broke out after a high school football game in New Jersey Friday evening, leaving two minors injured.
The gunfire erupted around 7:45 p.m. in the parking lot at Passaic County Technical Institute (PCTI), sources told CBS.
Two juveniles sustained gunshot wounds and were taken to a local hospital, the sources said.
A suspect was taken into custody.
The trio’s ages and the extent of the victims’ injuries were not immediately available.
The shooting broke out following a football game between PCTI and Lenape High School, a representative for the latter school told CBS.
“All Lenape High School (LHS) students and staff are safe and unharmed. We were informed there was gunfire, and two individuals needed medical attention at the conclusion of a football game tonight in Wayne, NJ.,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
“The suspect is in custody. No LHS students or staff were involved in the disturbance. Our thoughts are with the individuals harmed and the Passaic Technical Institute Community.”
PCTI officials did not respond to messages left by The Post.
Witnesses reported hearing up to half a dozen shots ring out during the frenzy.
Police have since blocked off the entrance to PCTI, photographs of the scene show.
The investigation is ongoing.
New Jersey
NJ Health Department reports 2 West Nile Virus deaths among new cases
![NJ Health Department reports 2 West Nile Virus deaths among new cases NJ Health Department reports 2 West Nile Virus deaths among new cases](https://cdn.abcotvs.com/dip/images/15249023_083024-wpvi-nj-west-nile-deaths-reported-5pm-video-vid.jpg?w=1600)
TRENTON, New Jersey (WPVI) — Two deaths have been linked to the West Nile Virus in New Jersey, state health officials announced Friday.
The deaths were among six new reported cases. The people who died lived in Cumberland and Mercer counties.
All of the cases involved people over 50 years old.
Previously, two human cases of West Nile were reported this year in Middlesex and Union counties.
In a typical year, there are 13 human West Nile infections reported in New Jersey. Last year, the state had 14 human cases of WNV and one death.
This comes after the state’s first human case of Eastern Equine encephalitis (EEE).
The New Jersey Department of Health and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection are urging residents to take precautions to protect themselves from mosquito-borne diseases and to reduce mosquito populations on their properties.
Follow these simple steps recommended to keep mosquitoes at bay
Most people infected with West Nile or EEE will have no symptoms. For those who do, symptoms include fever, chills, body aches, and joint pains. Rarely, people may develop severe neurological illness, which often presents as meningitis or encephalitis.
Symptoms of severe illness include fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, behavioral changes/confusion, limb weakness, and fatigue.
Older adults and people with weakened immune systems are at greater risk of developing severe illness. Specific laboratory tests are needed to confirm West Nile and EEE, so anyone with symptoms after a mosquito bite should contact their health care provider.
Copyright © 2024 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.
-
Connecticut1 week ago
Oxford church provides sanctuary during Sunday's damaging storm
-
Technology1 week ago
Breakthrough robo-glove gives you superhuman grip
-
Politics1 week ago
Clinton lauds Biden as modern-day George Washington and president who 'healed our sick' in DNC speech
-
Politics1 week ago
2024 showdown: What happens next in the Kamala Harris-Donald Trump face-off
-
News1 week ago
Who Are Kamala Harris’s 1.5 Million New Donors?
-
Politics1 week ago
Trump taunted over speculated RFK Jr endorsement: 'Weird as hell'
-
Politics1 week ago
Vivek Ramaswamy sounds off on potential RFK Jr. role in a Trump administration
-
World6 days ago
Portugal coast hit by 5.3 magnitude earthquake